Multiple ChoiceHow to Kick Some Serious Booty

(or even improve just a tiny bit)

MC Section of AP Exam

Often the most difficult part of the testConstitutes 45% of the examIf you score at least an average of 5 on

free-responses, you can miss almost HALF the MC questions and earn a 3 (passing score).

Types of Questions

1. Main idea2. Function/Purpose (May also be piece to a whole)3. Meaning in Context (Vocab)4. Tone5. Rhetorical strategies (90/90 terms)6. Grammar(ish)

Most questions can be categorized into one of these categories. Knowing which type of question

it is will help you decide if you should attempt it or leave it.

Strategy #1: Get the Easy Strategy #1: Get the Easy PointsPoints Combination of easy, medium and difficult

questions Follow order of the passage, not difficulty Skim through exam; answer easy ones

first…get all the points you can for ones you know (this might include rhetorical strategies Q’s)

Strategy #2: 2 Above, 2 BelowStrategy #2: 2 Above, 2 Below Word in context or line reference questions often

direct you to a specific place in the text Reading 2 sentences above and 2 below the given

line ensures you are getting the context, which helps to pick the BEST answer

– EX: In line 15, Abbey… (Here you would read from line 13 through line 17)

Some students find while using this method that you don’t have to read the passage all the way through the first time as they will end up reading in chunks

Strategy #3: Let ‘em Go!

Let’s talk about guessing versus leaving a question/s blank…

Multiple Choice: Should You Guess?

2 Points 1 Point 0 Points

Eliminating 3 25% 50% 25%

Eliminating 2 12% 44% 44%

Eliminating 1 6% 37% 57%

Eliminating 0 4% 32% 64%

New AP rule—no points off for incorrect answer!

Example: You guess on two questions. There are only three outcomes:Right + Right= 2 PointsRight + Wrong= 1 PointWrong + Wrong= 0 Points (but no penalty points, either!)

What’s your percentage if you guess?:

What if I can’t Eliminate Two Answers?

If you don’t know, don’t waste time…Move on!

Example: (60 questions)Example: (60 questions)

Student RightRight WrongWrong BlankBlank ScoreScoreDiddy 36 24 0

(He hoped he guessed right)

36

Rhianna 36 16 8 (Some guesses)

36

Snoop 36 8 16(Skipped hardest

ones)

36

Macklemore 31 4 25 (Almost ½ blank)

31

Strategy #4: Manage Your TimeStrategy #4: Manage Your Time

Clock ticking and you have a ton of questions left?

Find line reference and rhetorical strategy questions

These take the least amount of time

Strategy #4: Manage Your TimeStrategy #4: Manage Your Time

At the beginning of the exam, count the number of passages

Divide by time allottedIf you have 15 minutes per passage,

let’s say, follow the clock, not your own pacing

Remember, the goal is to find as many easy/medium questions as you can and get to them!

Strategy #5: Read ActivelyStrategy #5: Read Actively

If you do read the passage first, annotate briefly as you go

Annotations will – Keep you engaged – Help you find spots in the text quickly for

main idea, etc. questions– Help you eliminate certain answer choices

Strategy #6: POE!!Strategy #6: POE!!

Process of Elimination is the test-taker’s SAVIOR.

Your brain NEEDS to see fewer options. Cross off to help your brain make the best

decision If you use POE, it should help you make a

quick decision as to whether you should answer the question or leave it blank.

How the MC Score is Calculated:On your scantron, you’ll see the #

correct.1. Subtract the # correct from the total # of

Q (43-x) This is your RAW SCORE2. Take your raw score and multiply it

by .25 3. Subtract that # from your RAW SCORE4. This is your final score.

Class Scores:

43-25 029-25 024-21 720-17 616-12 1011-8 57-4 23-0 2

43-30 029-25 424-21 420-17 916-12 1011-8 57-4 23-0 0

Period 3 Period 6

This is great!

When You Get Your Scantron:

Chart your score (the circled one)Do NOT despair…this is HARD stuff

and your first attempt.On a separate sheet of paper, make a

chart of the 4 kinds of questions. List each question in one of the 4 sections.

Circle each question you got wrong.Identify which type of question on

which you perform worst

Main Idea/Meaning in Context

4, 6, 19, 33, 39, 40

Refers to/functions

2, 7,8,22,15

Rhetorical Strategies

1,12,13…

Speaker

For the question category where you performed the poorest:

You will do this for ONLY the question type that had the most circles

Fill out a grade correction sheet You may work with a partner on thisPoints for figuring out why you got the

question wrong and for analyzing your exam score/performance!